Drone photography shows what a ground camera cannot: the shape of a farm, the layout of a lodge, a crowd at an outdoor event or the full roofline of a factory. In South Africa it is used for marketing, tourism, weddings, agriculture, insurance records and progress photos on building sites. Any paid shoot must be flown by a pilot with a Remote Pilot Licence under a company that holds an RPAS Operator Certificate. Send one request and licensed drone photographers who work in your area quote you directly. It is free and there is no obligation.
What a drone photographer can shoot
Most jobs fall into a few kinds, and the right pilot for one is not always the right pilot for another:
- Venues, lodges and guesthouses: wide establishing photos of the building, the grounds and the view, usually at golden hour.
- Farms and estates: the whole property, the dams, the orchards, the boundaries and the farm road in a few frames.
- Businesses and sites: factory roofs, yards, parking and progress photos on a building site taken from the same spot each month.
- Events: outdoor weddings, festivals and sports days, flown from a safe distance and never directly over the crowd.
For houses that are being sold or let, see real estate drone photography. If you need moving footage as well, ask about drone videography in the same booking.
Licences and permission: ask to see them
Every paid drone shoot in South Africa is commercial flying under Part 101 of the Civil Aviation Regulations. The pilot needs a Remote Pilot Licence (RPL), the company needs an RPAS Operator Certificate (ROC) and the drone must be registered with the SACAA. Ask to see the RPL and ROC before you pay a deposit, and ask whether the operator carries aviation liability insurance.
The pilot also needs permission from the landowner, and on many sites from an estate or body corporate. Some places, such as spots near airports, national parks, prisons and national key points, are off limits or need extra approval, so give the exact address when you ask for a quote. A good operator checks the airspace before saying yes.
What drives the price of a shoot
Drone photography in South Africa is usually quoted per shoot, at about R1,900 to R8,950. A short shoot of one building with a set of edited photos sits at the low end. A larger property, several locations in a day, travel out of town, early morning or sunset timing, or a full set of retouched images pushes it up. Weather matters too: the Cape south-easter, Highveld summer storms and winter haze all move shoot dates, so ask how a weather day is handled.
Ask what is included: the number of edited photos, the file size and format, whether raw files come with them, the licence to use the images and the turnaround time. A price that covers only the flight and leaves the editing out is not the cheaper quote.
How to get quotes you can compare
Give every photographer the same facts: the address or a pin, what you want shown, how the photos will be used (web, print, brochure, insurance), the time of day you prefer, a date range and whether anyone else on site must agree. Ask each one for a link to similar work, their RPL and ROC details, the drone they plan to fly and its camera resolution, and how many photos you get. If you would rather fly yourself for private use, look at drone hire or a camera drone of your own, but you may not sell those photos without a licence.
What to include in your request
- The address or a map pin of the site
- What the photos must show and how they will be used
- Preferred time of day and a date range
- How many edited photos you need
- Who must give permission to fly there
Drone Photography for different clients
- Hobbyists and families: aerial photos of a family farm, a smallholding or a special outdoor celebration
- Farmers and growers: overview photos of orchards, dams, pivots and boundaries for records, sales or funding
- Estate agents and developers: photos of developments, complexes and commercial buildings for brochures and websites
- Builders, engineers and installers: monthly progress photos taken from the same point to track a building site
- Mines, plants and utilities: roof, yard and plant photos for annual reports, insurance and site planning
- Photographers, film crews and agencies: establishing aerial stills for weddings, lodges, tourism campaigns and magazines
- Security companies and estates: a clear aerial record of fences, gates and camera positions on a large site
- Municipalities, schools and NGOs: aerial photos of schools, parks and public works for reports and community notices
Frequently asked questions
How much does drone photography cost in South Africa?
Does a drone photographer need a licence?
Do you take the photos yourselves?
What time of day is best for aerial photos?
Drone Photography by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg